Aurora resident tells story of Vietnam service, chastises VA

Aurora -- Local resident and Vietnam veteran Dusty Trimmer released a book titled SDLqCondemned Property?" on Jan. 6 through Dog Ear Publishing.

Trimmer, 69, fought in the Vietnam War as a combat infantryman with the 25th Infantry Division in 1968-69. He often served as a point man as well.

Trimmer said he witnessed many fellow soldiers die in combat, and many veterans who died when in their 30s to 60s after the war.

He wrote "Condemned Property?" for those who have died and those who are fighting illness because of exposure to Agent Orange, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other conditions.

"The Vietnam veterans have been denied their benefits and treatment from the Veterans Administration," Trimmer said. "It's been a constant fight, and as a result many have died prematurely because they were denied by the government and VA system."

He said he hopes his book makes it into the hands of his "Vietnam veteran brothers and sisters," the "people responsible" and any patriotic Americans interested in the nation's history.

The book review magazine Kirkus Reviews described "Condemned Property?" as a memoir "about the disastrous results of the Vietnam War and its aftermath, and Trimmer notes that the leaders of the war did anything but execute the war plan evenly."

Trimmer is pleased with the recent positive feedback he has received so from veterans and non-veterans. "America owes Vietnam veterans an apology," Trimmer said.

Condemned Property? is available at Ingram, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and many area bookstores. For any additional information, visit www.condemnedpropertybook.com.